First of all, I would like to echo the sentiment of other reviewers that this book needs to come with content warnings upon publication! For being a book marketed as “YA,” this book covers very heavy topics, such as suicide and child abuse. Is these are topics that would be triggering to you, I would proceed with caution.

That being said, I loved this book. I’m not usually a thriller girlie and I’m not usually a YA girlie, but I think mixing the two together is just what I need to enjoy both genres. The mystery, though tragic, felt low stakes enough that my heart wasn’t hammering, and because the book wasn’t a romance, I didn’t have to read about the decisions kids make in the name of “love.” This book follows a group of five high school seniors, called The Thrashers, and the fallout after Emily Mills, who desperately wanted to be a part of their clique, commits suicide on prom night. Investigators believe The Thrashers are responsible, at least in part, for her death and use her journal as evidence to prove it.

The story is mainly told through Jodi’s point of view, with the occasional excerpt from Emily’s journal providing a different perspective. Jodi is childhood best friends with Zack Thrasher and doesn’t really feel like she has fits in with the rest of the clique she’s a part of because they’re all wealthy and she isn’t. I loved this being told through Jodi’s POV because even though she didn’t really like Emily, she was the only Thrasher to show her kindness. All the characters were a bit unhinged, especially Emily, so having a character that showed compassion and seemed to be more understanding because of her own circumstances, was a great way to tell this story. The relationship Jodi shared with each of her friends (or should I say “friends”) was very interesting and the way she felt like she was on the outside, even when she was actually on the inside, was very relatable. Zack’s relationship with everyone, especially Emily, reminded me of why he was the kind of person I avoided in high school. Julie Soto did a wonderful job of making Emily Mills just unlikable enough that you feel sorry for her but also understand why the others weren’t always kind to her, which is a tough line to balance. I’m not sure if I was supposed to, but I loved Julian, even before I got more of his backstory. I couldn’t really relate to him, but he was still someone I really liked. Overall, this book was very gripping. I thought about when I wasn’t reading it and I couldn’t wait to get back to it when I was doing something else. I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen next and I really loved Jodi as a character. Her point of view was just reliable enough, but because she’s a high school senior, of course there were times I didn’t always know how much I could believe her, because if there was ever a time my emotions and thoughts couldn’t be trusted, it’s when I was in high school. Overall, this book was such a great experience for me. I think I’ve finally unlocked a sub-thriller genre that I can get down with and I feel unstoppable!

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I read Soto's contemporary romance books and loved them, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read The Thrashers early.

It may be difficult to write a review without giving anything spoiler-y away. Jodi is part of a friend group others call Thrashers, named after Zack, the athlete / popular high school senior. Her other friends Paige and Lucy and Zack's friend Julian round out the group. After junior prom, this hanger on girl Emily takes her life, and then the group is accused of bullying her to death.

What actually happened and intent vs. passive disinterest is part of the mystery, but most of the book reads more like a thriller with bad things happening to various members of the group, with some paranormal theories. Jodi feels on the fringes with the group after being forced to find new friends and interests, so she starts painting backdrops for the theatre club. Jodi has a drunk dad who is mean when he drinks, and her mom died by drowning so her aunt and grandma help her. Everyone else in her group is richer than her.

Let's talk about Emily. The way she's described is through Jodi's eyes, but she seemed like an obsessive person. There are definitely red flags that I saw, that were noticed and then critical to the end of the story. You would have to take the more supernatural or paranormal aspects of the book with a grain of salt. The Thrashers will definitely make you ponder high school and be glad you don't have to relive it. I wish the pace was a little faster for the first part of the book.

Trigger warnings for parent's alcohol abuse, suicide, teenage drinking and drug use, statutory rape.
3.75 stars. rounded up to 4 stars, available May 6, 2025.

I heard there were Veronica Mars vibes, and I was locked in from the first chapter.
I wanted a little more from the ending but overall loved this, I was hooked.
I'll read anything from Julie Soto!
4 stars.
arc provided from Netgalley

This book was so good! Pulled me out of a reading slump and I read it in like three days. I loved the constant suspicion surrounding Emily. I also loved the paranormal aspects of it and the way it was a constant question of whether they really were paranormal events! I can’t wait to read it again when it comes out! I hope it gets a second one because the ending definitely allows there to be one!

I was not ready for how obsessed I’d be with this story. Think messy high school drama meets eerie mystery with a dash of ghostly weirdness, and somehow it all works. Jodi was an intriguing main character. She was smart, emotional, stuck between being loyal and just trying to survive the chaos around her. The Thrashers friend group was an absolute train wreck in the best way. Everyone was a little shady, definitely hiding something, and I could not put the book down. I wasn’t expecting the paranormal twist but it was such a fun layer. This felt very Pretty Little Liars but possibly darker and definitely more grounded. The epilogue left me desperate for more. Julie Soto, you can’t just drop that and leave us hanging! If you’re even a little into YA thrillers, or just love a story where everyone is lying and it’s deliciously complicated, this one’s a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Who loves Julie Soto?
I do, I do!!!
This was just as amazing as I had hoped for and I encourage everyone to get wrapped up in the drama that is The Trashers!
Drama, mystery, drama, found family, drama, romancey bits, drama, and did I mention it's got drama?
There is so much going on in this book, and yet, Julie manages to keep it all in a nice easy to devour flow.
Much love to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press & Macmillan Audio for my ARCs!

"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊 𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕."

Special thanks to @stmartinspress @wednesdaybooks @juliesotowrites & @netgalley for the #gifted eARC.

➡️ swipe for synopsis 👉🏼

𝙈𝙔 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⚠️Check trigger warnings
Unaliving, bullying, mentions of s.a., abuse, drug and alcohol use⚠️

Utterly Captivating. This plunges you deep into the high school populars world, first hand. Although the comradery between these 5 friends is astounding considering what they're up against. Thete is a hint of paranormal activity, "From beyond the grave".

I was gripped to every single page. I couldn't get thorough it fast enough. Stayed up WAY too late because I just had to see what happened to Jodi & The Thrashers

Also Kiera, girlfriend, who the F eats someone else's sandwich bread crusts. ew!

The ending of this book put me in tears. I personally know what it's like to feel this way and have to be strong - and it's tough.

Utterly jaw dropping. Best YA thriller I've read all year!

𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:
May 6, 2025

ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻❓️⁉️❓️
Did you have a solid group of friends in high school? Are you still friends now?

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#mysteryandthrills #thrillersandsuspense #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #thrillerjunkie #thrillergirlie #bookbuzz #upcomingthriller #stmartinspress #wednesdaybooks #juliesoto #thethrashers #yathriller
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My love for Julie Soto grows with each book I read by her!
After absolutely loving Forget Me Not and Not Another Love Song, I knew I needed to read the Thrashers. I was excited to read something different by her but was admittedly slightly nervous because YA can be hit or miss for me. I shouldn’t have been though because Julie’s writing is phenomenal and I was hooked from page 1.

This was a wild ride of toxic friendships, twists and turns, a slightly paranormal twist, and I loved every second of it. Every character was perfectly flawed and I felt it portrayed being a teen in high school perfectly without ever being cringe, which is a true feat. And that epilogue?! Hellooooo?!
If your only reservation about reading this book is that it’s YA, give it a shot! You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you Wednesday Books & NetGalley for the eARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer

I AM STILL SCREAMING ON THE INSIDE OVER HERE. THE THRASHERS FINISHED ME, I DIDN'T FINISH THEM. LIKE WTH???????

Also, WTH?!?! Is there a book two? I'm SCREAMING!!

*trying hard not to scream*

If you thought that this is a simple another "elite group of friends at a high school", I've read one of those before and don't need to read this one, YOU ARE WRONG!! The Thrashers took my breath and sanity away!! Compelling, realistic characters, lots of "should I trust them or not?" and "did they or did they not?", and a tiny hint of the supernatural (talking mediums and spirits) towards the ending.

We follow Jodi's pov, and I must say that she surprised me a lot! She is an excellent student and desperately wants to belong and be loved. Yes, she is a member of the popular elite group of friends called The Thrashers, but she still feels like she is on the outside even though she is in it. I loved how she struggled with that feeling and the logic behind it. She had a moment when she was like "what am I supposed to say? that I feel bad that my friends' lives don't revolve around me?" I found her so relatable, so authentic, because there's always divisions even within a group of friends, and Jodi feels like she's the fifth member in a quartet. She has emotional baggage that only gets heavier, but despite her loyalty to her friends and her somewhat feelings for Zack, she still decides to do the right thing, and I loved her for it. She isn't perfect, she isn't an innocent saint, she makes mistakes, but she learns from them all and becomes even more mature.

The other members of the Thrashers are Zack Thrasher, Paige, Lucy, and Julian. The author did a great job at bringing each character to life without confusing us. Each character was distinct, and I wouldn't confuse a line from Paige as Lucy's, for example. Zack is the person everyone loves and is love with. He has charisma, is nice, and always smiling. But he is really the too good to be true kind of person. I'm not spoiling anything, but I especially loved the scene where Jodi realized his true colours and depth. Lucy is the intimidating one with quick comebacks, and Paige is sort of the baby darling of the group. Julian is the jerk of the group who is seemingly rude. To be honest, I trusted him more than the other three because at least, he didn't pretend at all and said what he meant (with some blunt rough honesty but honesty all the same).

I loved the mystery elements, too! I loved how the author didn't make it into a "who killed her?" issue but rather "who drove her to suicide? who hurt her when she was alive?". It was clever and it also added a touch of authenticity because bullying, mental health, and suicides are real issues. I also liked how the author explored the outside world's perception of such an elite group of friends but also how the group's members perceive themselves. They didn't want to be called The Thrashers, and yet they were...

And that touch of the supernatural? Adding the mediums and spirits? IT WAS BRILLIANT. Not saying anything more, but I'll just say that it wasn't tacky, it was BRILLIANT.

The last two pages will leave you screaming and pulling your hair, so consider this your warning. It's not a cliffhanger really, more like a bridge between this and the sequel, a very scream-inducing bridge!

I am a Julie Soto babe (yes, I've read and loved everything she's written!!), I have been Sotoed, I have been Thrashed, I have been ruined. I have lost my marbles over this book, and I need book two like I need air!

THIS WAS A WILD RIDE!!! Where is the sequel? I literally inhaled this in one sitting and was reeling throughout. Julie Soto has cemented her place as an auto-buy author for me. I truly cannot believe this is her first foray into YA thrillers, because it was so masterfully done. The friend group felt nostalgic of my own in high school, so I was on the edge of my seat as every bad thing kept happening to them. I loved the execution of the romance, because it didn't override the plot or distract from the heavier themes. It was subtle, and their shared moments had me smiling knowingly and hoping neither of them died in the end (since this was obviously such a stressful possibility). Speaking of endings, THAT ENDING WAS INSANE. My poor baby Julian being in jail and his haunting ??? Again, need a sequel or five. I have no real constructive thoughts other than that the grand reveal was a little anticlimactic after all of that intense supernatural buildup, but everything else truly slapped. The character depth, the immersion, the tension, all fantastic. I typically shy away from thrillers for their predictability, and while this had its little moments, I loved it and ATE IT UP. It's also important to note how wonderfully the author tackled the toxicity of high school dynamics, and how they can impact people's mental health. The question of 'am I the bully?' and 'was this our fault?' truly got me, so I appreciated the emotional depth and underlying themes here. Thank you Julie Soto for giving me a new book boyfriend to cry over and truly rocking me to my core over all the sick twists and turns.

What can’t Julie Soto do?

I really enjoyed this thriller! It had me feeling all the things, and I was riveted by the story. I thought this was a great coming of age novel, especially with some of the darker and harsher topics covered in the story.

I would have liked a slightly better ending (at least something a little more concrete for my ship… I also got frustrated that not everyone got the punishment they deserved (which I guess mirrors real life)).

Thank you for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I am. Julie Soto romance fan so I was excited to read her YA thriller! And she delivered!! I read this in one sitting and had a great time with it. The ending was great! This book is perfect for YA thriller fans or anyone who likes a quick, fun ride

The Thrashers is a teenage thriller where a suicide places the popular clique in the spotlight but in a bad light. Emily Mills moved in the fringes of the Thrasher social group until her suicide brings to light the clique’s tendency to discard people. Jodi is not rich and is only in the group because Zack Thrasher is her best friend and the boy she’s always secretly been in love with. As everyone’s secrets come to light Jodi is forced to open her eyes to the truth about all of her friends. The story is twisted and a little dark as it keeps throwing curveballs at the reader but it’s definitely a page turning thrill ride until the very end. I found myself changing my opinions on the characters multiple times and I am still a little torn on if I liked most of the main characters. The story is full of enough surprises to keep you reading! This is my first read from this author but it won’t be my last. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Julie Soto killed it with her debut YA thriller! Such a fun, bingeable read! I loved Jodi’s character and her friendships with the other Thrashers. You never know who to believe and some of the twists got me–that ending?! 🤯 There’s some paranormal activity, not my favorite in a thriller 🫣, but the book was so good I didn't mind! Ummm can we get a second book?? We need to know what happens with Julian!

Julie knocked it out of the part with this YA thriller. It kept me on my toes the entire time. That ending???? PLEASE let there be another book in our future!!

This was such a roller coaster book to read, but in the best way! There were so many twist and turns and honestly gave me thirteen reasons why vibes, because it follows a group of teenagers who bullied a girl into taking her own life. But not everyone is ready to admit their actions and deal with the consequences, however Jodi is the only one determined to find the truth. This was such a fast read that gave non stop drama, a little romance, a whole lot obsession, and a little sprinkle of paranormal. Highly recommend this one!

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5⭐️
THE THRASHERS
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: mystery
📖 352 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🚔 📔😱💬🛁⛓️‍💥🕵🏼‍♀️👻💡🎭🔥💊
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 5/6/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ single POV
◽️ diary entries
◽️ mediums & seances
◽️ mysterious texts

💜𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💜

Thank you @juliesoto @wednesdaybooks @netgalley @macmillianaudio for the #gifted copy!

I absolutely devoured this!! It was everything I love in a gripping YA mystery. It had the addictive energy of a high school drama series, blending the emotional pull of ONE TREE HILL with the dark, twisty mystery vibes of 13 REASONS WHY. From the very first page, I was hooked & genuinely didn’t want it to end. The teenage angst, tangled friendships, & slow burn romance gave it the perfect mix of heart & suspense.

Told mostly through Jodi’s single POV, with a few diary entries & past memories layered in, the story felt intimate & emotionally charged. Secrets, lies, & hidden motives are scattered throughout, keeping the tension high & the pace snappy. Even though it’s a YA novel, it never felt juvenile—the writing was sharp & the stakes felt real. I will read anything Soto writes!!

⚠️ physical abuse, bullying

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Jodi Dillon finds herself in the elite friend group known as the Thrashers, thanks to her childhood bond with Zack Thrasher. The group—Zack, Lucy, Paige, & Julian—are wealthy, glamorous, & used to getting what they want. When Emily Mills, a girl desperate to join their circle, dies under suspicious circumstances, rumors begin to swirl. As Emily’s journal emerges & creepy messages appear, Jodi must choose between loyalty to her friends & saving herself. With the investigation closing in, it seems Emily’s story—& her revenge—is far from over.

I absolutely did not start this book with the impression that it would end up being amongst my favorite reads of the year so far — but julie soto has never disappointed me, so this truly comes as no surprise.

this was SUCH a blast in every single way. it took me back to all of the YA thrillers and murder mysteries I grew up on.

the mystery was incredibly fun and suspenseful, the paranormal elements were genuinely spooky at times, and with a little dash of enemies to lovers romance that had me giggling & kicking my feet?! this had it ALL.

the perfect read for fans of pretty little liars, 13 reasons why & a good girls guide to murder. I wasn’t even finished with the book before I was contemplating how excited I am to read this over and over again. genuinely can’t wait to make this my new personality and bully everyone I love into reading it.

thank you to st. martin’s press for the e-arc!

I really enjoyed this book! It was very suspenseful and I enjoyed the teenage school aspect. I will definitely recommend to friends and read more from this author!

While I love Julie Soto, I'm a little torn. I knew The Thrashers wasn't going to be NALS or FMN. It's not quite what I expected. It gave me Goosebumps (by R.L. Stine) vibes but with a little adult content thrown in, and I mean that in the most complementary way. She kept it actually YA and not an adult fiction/romance/thriller masquerading as YA. The story follows Jodi Dillion, so we really only get to see her side of things, with the exception of Emily Mills' journal entries. I would have liked to see more of the other's POV. That ending. I wish the ending had happened in the middle or that there would be a second book that includes more of that. I do recommend, slightly spooky, a little bit of a romance sub-plot, some family coming to terms with their demons, friendships rekindled, most things nicely resolved, and an epilogue that will leave you questioning the whole book.